Base-ball mask



(No Model.) y

,L. J. F. R'OONEY.

`BASE BALL MASK.

' l PatentedJune so, 1891.V

UNITED VSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

' LEO J. F. ROONEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BASE-BALL MASK.

$5PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,007, dated June 30, 1891.

Application ned January 15, 1891. semina. 377,933. (Nonnen T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO J. F. ROONEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Base-Ball Masks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to base-ball masks.

The object of the invention is to prevent the interference of sunshineor the glare of an electric light, where that is the source of illumination, with the operation of the player, to render the mask readily adjustable to any shape of head, and to render it easily applied to or withdrawn from the head.

The features of novelty of the invention will be hereinafter fully described, and speciiically indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of a mask embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, part of the protecting wires being removed for convenience of illustration. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

The frame-work of the mask is composed of a series of arched metallic wires or rods, as ordinarily provided in such devices, and indicated at l in the drawings. These wires may be jointed together in any convenient manner, as shown in the drawings. There is a curved wire in the rear, substantially elliptical in shape, from which arched wires spring forwardly, forming supports for the protective grating which covers the face. A Rearwardprojecting loops form supports for the cushions 2 2 3 3, which rest against the cheeks and forehead of the player. Thesecushions may be formedof leather casings stuffed withv any suitable material. As they are used in masks now on the market it will be unnecessary to further describe them. In the lower` part of the mask is a chin-rest 4, riveted to the curved wire forming the rear part of the mask, this chin-rest being formed of leather. Upon the upper part of the frame-work is mounted a leather Visor or rest 5, adapted to bear upon the forehead, which acts both as a screen to keep a. glare of light from the eyes and as acushion to prevent injury to the foreheadunder the impact of a blow from a ball. This is provided with a stiff edge, preferably formed, as shown at 6, the edge of theleather being` stitched around an arched steel or metal' wire, and is secured to one of the horizontal wires of the frame-work, as shown at 7 in the drawings, an extension or tongue of the leather being stitched around such wire, or

the stiening-wire 6 may be secured to such horizontal wire. leather visor or cushion 5 is a strap 8 fixed at one end to a point of the frame-work,and at an opposite point is secured a short plece of strap provided with abuckle and co-operating with the free end of the strap 8. A series of holes in the free end of the strap enables the leather cushion 5 to be sprung inwardly, thus enablin'gits conformation to be changed to sult differently-shaped heads. The lower end of the head-cushion 5 is provided with flexible elastic blinkers 9, preferably formed of rubber and secured by stitching, as indicated in the drawings. By making these blinkers flexible and elastic they will be protected from danger when thrown upon the ground, and Will resume their normal shape when again put in use. The band 10, which holds the mask upon the head, is provided with anad- Across the outer face of the justable strap 11, so that it may be varied in y length to accommodate large and small heads.

In order to hold this band in place anA upwardly-extendingtlexiblesupport12, provided with an adjusting-strap 13, is provided. This strap co-operates with a buckle 14, secured to the upper part of the mask, and by adj ustmg the strap 13 the band 10 may be held at different vertical elevations, so as to rest upon any desired portion of the head which may be most comfortable to the player, or may best suit the shape of the head. The support 12 always holds the band 10 in position, so that the mask may be instant-ly placed upon the head or removed with one hand, which is very desirable in practice.

In order to further insure the'player against the interference of sunshine or other source of light all ot the lower wires of the framework are made of a dead color, as indicated in black in the drawings, so as to avoid a glare of light being thrown into the eyes. This effect may be realized by oxidizing or painting the wires, so as to render them non-reiiective,

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or by covering them With some material which will not reflect light, as a cotton or other braiding. The under surface of the blinkers and leather cushion for the forehead will be dyed a green shade, so as to render such light as may reflect from the ground, and thence from the cushion into the eyes soft and agreeable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A base-ball mask provided with ashade to protect the eyes of the player from a glare of light.

2. A base-ball mask provided with a shade for the eyes, said shade bearing against the forehead and forming a cushion for the mask, and being adjustable to suit different heads.

A base-ball mask provided with a cushion or rest, mounted on the upper portion of the mask, adapted to bear against the forehead, having its lower and front portion secured to the frame of the mask, and its rear portion provided with a stiffening-Wire.

4.-. A baseball mask provided with a cushion or support, adapted to bear against the forehead of the player, a portion of said cushion in the neighborhood of the eyes being provided with blinkers.

5. A base-ball mask provided with flexible elastic blinkers to protect the eyes of the player from a glare of light.

G. A baseball mask provided with a band to surround the head and hold the mask thereto, and a support for preventing suoli band from sagging.

7. A base-ball mask provided with a band to surround the head and confine the mask thereto, and an adjustable support for holding such band in position.

In testimony WhereofI affix my signature in presence of tivo witnesses.

LEO J. F. ROONEY.

Witnesses:

F. EVALLACE, T. G. XVINsoR. 

